The number of children requiring speech and language therapy has doubled since 2018

Luxembourg’s concerning results in the PISA international study on the quality of education have drawn the attention of teachers and relevant authorities to the issue of academic achievement. Marc Schmidt, Director of the Speech Therapy Centre, maintains that difficulties with reading and processing information are established long before a child starts school. The early years of a child’s life are a critically important stage for the development of language skills. According to experts, regular time spent together – playing, reading or even doing household chores together – is sufficient to ensure a child is fully prepared for school. However, the key requirement remains genuine interaction without constant distraction from smartphones. Marc Schmidt emphasises that a lack of time and the excessive use of mobile devices by adults have become a serious social problem hindering children’s normal development.

Statistics from specialist institutions confirm this negative trend. Currently, around 3,000 children are receiving outpatient treatment at the Speech Therapy Centre, which is almost double the figures for the 2018–2019 academic year. At the same time, the number of specialised diagnostic assessments has tripled; during these assessments, multidisciplinary teams of professionals work with patients for two weeks to establish an accurate diagnosis. Practising specialists are identifying not only speech development delays in pre-school children, but also associated problems with concentration and the ability to process auditory information.

In cases of congenital disorders or serious medical conditions, children can receive tuition directly at the Speech Therapy Centre, which currently has around 300 pupils. Most of them successfully integrate into mainstream schools after completing a programme equivalent to the second year of schooling. Experts note that targeted support at an early age is crucial. Without a solid foundation in one or both of their first languages, learning foreign languages such as German or French later on becomes extremely difficult.

Overcoming a communication crisis requires adults to change their habitual patterns of behaviour. Renée Fretz, coordinator of the Speech Therapy Centre, points out that, because they are so busy with everyday tasks, parents often forget how to play with their children. Through organised parents’ forums, adults are given the opportunity to take part in joint creative activities, dancing or singing, allowing them to take a complete break from their everyday worries. According to experts, children rarely need educationally perfect developmental methods — simple forms of shared leisure activities and genuine engagement are far more effective.